Father Ted creator Graham Linehan called transgender activist 'disgusting incel' before he smashed her mobile phone, court hears

Published: 15:41, 30 April 2026 | Updated: 15:45, 30 April 2026 Father Ted creator Graham Linehan called a transgender activist a 'disgusting incel' before he smashed her mobile phone, a court has heard. The comedy writer, 57, was in November found guilty of causing £369 worth of damage to Sophia Brooks's iPhone at the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster on October 19, 2024 and ordered to pay nearly £1,400 in fines and costs. Linehan had posted on X calling Ms Brooks, 18, 'sociopathic' and a 'domestic terrorist' but was previously cleared of harassing her by a judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He is now appealing his conviction for criminal damage and appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. When the pair met at the Battle of Ideas conference, Ms Brooks filmed Linehan who responded by calling her a 'groomer' before grabbing her phone and throwing it onto the road. Linehan, of Scottsdale, Arizona, referred to the teenager as a 'man' and a 'psycho posh kid' in a series of posts. When Ms Brooks confronted the writer he called her a 'disgusting incel' and a 'sissy porn-watching scumbag'. Julia Faure Walker, prosecuting, said: 'Mr Linehan called Sophia Brooks a groomer, asking how many Ms Brooks had groomed. He also called Sophia Brooks an incel. Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, pictured arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, called a transgender activist a 'disgusting incel' before he smashed her phone, the court heard The comedy writer is appealing his conviction for criminal damage after being found guilty of £369 worth of damage to Sophia Brooks's iPhone 'These insults, the prosecution suggests, illustrated Mr Linehan's attitude towards Sophia Brooks.' Ms Walker told the court Ms Brooks 'in effect was asking Mr Linehan why he had called [her] a domestic terrorist' while filming the comedian. 'Mr Linehan could, the prosecution say, have explained why he had made that allegation, or ignored Ms Brooks, or walked away,' she added.  'But rather he responded in a way which is again indicative of extreme animosity towards Ms Brooks. 'Mr Linehan may well have found Sophia Brooks to be annoying and persistent... But Sophia Brooks was not committing any crime, nor, in any event, any crime that needed disrupting by forcefully removing and damaging Ms Brooks phone. 'Mr Linehan was angry. He deliberately and forcefully took hold of the phone out of Ms Brooks' hand and threw the phone across the street.' The prosecution argued that the comic writer appeared to show some pride in what he had done by later posting: 'I'm quite proud that I grabbed his phone and threw it across the road.' Ms Walker added: 'Clearly Mr Linehan was pleased by gaining a sense of personal superiority over a transgender activist.' Linehan said Ms Brooks had released insects at an event held by the LGB Alliance, which she denied.  The TV star's appeal against conviction hearing continues. District judge Briony Clarke cleared the comic writer of harassment in November and said that while Linehan's comments were 'deeply unpleasant and even unnecessary', they were not 'oppressive or unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating'. She also cast doubt on Ms Brooks's testimony in court, describing her as giving 'less than truthful evidence'. Speaking outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in November, Linehan said he hoped his acquittal for harassment would put an end to gender critical commentators such as himself being targeted by members of the trans community. He said: 'I'm very pleased by today's verdict. There are a group of dangerous men who are determined to bully women and girls, and to misuse the courts and police in furtherance of a misogynistic agenda. Speaking outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in November, Linehan said he hoped his acquittal would end gender critical commentators being targeted by the trans community  'I'm proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so.' He previously described how he lost his income and his marriage to the writer Helen Serafinowicz due to his involvement in gender critical activism. He told reporters outside court: 'It's what trans activists do. We have a phrase, punishment is a process, and they like to put people through these kinds of experiences, to make them frightened about standing up to them. 'But I'm hoping that with this judgment, you know, people in future won't be subject to those kinds of tactics.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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